Shimla, September 10
The BJP may have to contest the Guler byelection, scheduled for October 13, without the presence of Mr Shanta Kumar, who is likely to return from abroad in November.

Even as the BJP gears up to meet the challenge from the Congress, it may have to contend with only Mr P.K. Dhumal and leaders from Kangra holding the reins of the party campaign.

“I am trying to get in touch with Mr Shanta Kumar, but he will return in November as per his scheduled programme. The date for the election was announced later,” said Mr Suresh Bhardwaj, state BJP chief. He said the party candidate from Guler would be decided before September 15.

Party workers said Mr Shanta Kumar had tremendous influence in the area and his absence would make a difference.

The Kangra BJP would meet on September 12 to discuss the party’s preparedness for the byelection and the candidate to be fielded from Guler. “We will try and get in touch with Mr Shanta Kumar. In case he is unable to return from to USA before the byelection, only then other party leaders will campaign for the party candidate,” said Mr Kishan Kapoor, former minister and Shanta loyalist.

Another dilemma being faced by the BJP is the reluctance on the part of Mr Harbans, Rana, a former minister, in taking the electoral plunge from Guler. “Though Mr Rana has a fractured foot with the general perception that byelections are mostly won by the ruling party, he want to avoid another election,” said a BJP MLA.

Senior leaders are keen that Mr Rana contest the election. The names of Mr Uttra Guleria, BJP mandal chief, Mr Ravinder Guleria, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader and Mr Surinder Guleria are doing the rounds.

Apart from national issues like the price hike, the issues of regional discrimination against Kangra and signing of the MoU on fiscal reforms with the Centre will be the BJP’s main election plank. Dropping of three ministers from Kangra in the downsizing of the Cabinet and blocking of employment opportunities by signing the MoU may cast their shadow on the byelection.

Dalhousie, September 10
The Himachal Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, has assured support for the development of hydropower projects in Himachal Pradesh by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), adding that a high-level meeting to this effect would be held soon to discuss and decide the issues relating to the various hydroelectric projects.

At the first meeting yesterday held between Mr Virbhadra Singh and Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the NHPC, Mr Yogendra Prasad, all issues relating to different power projects in the state, including Chamera power station, were discussed.

The meeting discussed a few matters relating to the Chamera power station and the Parbati project being constructed and operated by the NHPC in Chamba and Kullu districts. Mr Yogendra Prasad highlighted the details of the hydroelectric projects being constructed, operated and executed by the NHPC in other states of the country.

The meeting was also attend Mr Kaul Singh Thakur, Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Mrs Asha Kumari, Education Minister, Kanwar Shamsher Singh, Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh, besides Mr Parminder Singh, Executive Director, NHPC Region-IV, Chandigarh, and Mr M.M. Madam, General Manager, Parbati hydroelectric project.

Shimla, September 10
Mr Kaul Singh Thakur, Irrigation and Public Health Minister, who is also the chairman of the cabinet sub-committee on VAT (value added tax), said that the government would take into consideration all suggestions of the traders and the industry while finalising the state value added tax bill.

Presiding over the meeting of the sub-committee, here today, in which representatives of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Beopar Mandal were present, he assured that there would be no harassment to the business community as tax laws and procedures would be simplified and made easy to implement. He said that VAT would be implemented in the state from April 1, 2005.

He said people should not feel that VAT would increase prices. Mr Sat Mahajan, revenue minister, also gave his suggestions and views about the VAT system.

Representatives of the Beopar Mandal held discussions about various provision of the value added tax bill and gave their suggestions.

Barog, September 10
Dwelling upon the need to make concerted efforts by Forest Department researchers, NGOs and the people for achieving the mandate of 60 per cent forest cover the State Forest Minister, Mr Ram Lal, said the forest cover in the state had registered an increase of 1,859 sq km. comprising 26 per cent tree cover out of the total geographical area.

Speaking on the valedictory function of a two-day workshop on ‘Criteria and Indicators for Monitoring the Progress of Forest Development Agencies’ at Barog, he said 20 projects worth Rs 40.94 crore under the forest development agencies had been sanctioned for Himachal Pradesh and Rs 10.07 received by the state. With a view to enrich the economy the need to popularise bamboo plantation and cultivation of medicinal plants should be taken up, he added.

Dr S.S. Negi, Vice-Chancellor, Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, stressed on the need for the people’s participation and said sustainable technology for the cultivation of crucial forest species, including aromatic and medicinal plants had been develop. Dr Parvinder Kaushal, coordinator of the workshop, highlighted the activities of the project. The Principal Conservator of Forests, Punjab, Mr A.S. Dogra and the Principal Conservator of Forests, Himachal Pradesh, Mr R.A. Singh, also spoke on the occasion.

Kangra, September 10
The Kangra police today arrested another person in connection with the child-lifting case from Kachiari on the outskirt of the town, the police said here today.

According to the additional police chief, Mr Kapil Sharma, Parveen Kumar, a resident of Palampur, was nabbed by the police in the dead of night at Kachiari village in connection with the child-lifting case, taking the number of those arrested to five, including a woman.